Monorail system for stores



Dec. 11, 1923. 1,477,495

M, R. HUTCHISON MONORAIL sYs rEM FOR STORES Filed Jan. 23. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEYS Dec. 11, 1923.

V 1,477,495 M. R. HUTCHISON MONORAIL SYSTEM FOR STORES Filed Jan. 23, 192: 2 Sheets-Sheet z ATTORNEYS I Patented Dec. 11, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILLER REESE HUTGHISON, OF ORANGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO HUTCHISON THRIFT CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

MONORAIL SYSTEI/I FOR STORES.

Application filed January 23, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MILLER Rnnsn Huron- ISON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Monorail System for Stores, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to self-service stores for the merchandising of commodities of different kinds, and has reference more particularly to a store of this kind, in which means are provided for enabling the cus tomer readily and easily to transport, on his way through the store, the merchandise which he has selected to take with him.

The invention particularly relates, as preferably carried out, to a self-service store of the kind just indicated and such as dis closed in my co-pending application Serial No. 566,607, wherein the customer is afforded convenient means for aiding him in the transport of the selected merchandise and at the same time predetermining his course through the store. As indicated in my copending application just identified, such means may very well be and preferably is a track running adjacent to merchandise holders and predetermining such course, in so combination with a receptor for the selected merchandise adapted to travel along the track with the customer while he is covering such course. According to said co-pending application, such carrier, conveniently a basket the hail of which carries a track-engaging means, is readily detachably carried by the track. that is to say, each customer on entering thestere and on receiving at a predetermined advance station one of the carriers, may hang such carrier on the track and then, when the customer has completed his course and the carrier has traveled along the track to another predetermined point, the carrier may be detached from the track, the contents thereof checked and the cost thereof totalled, the merchandise delivered to the customer on payment by him of his bill, and the carrier thus made available for similar use by a subsequent customer.

A particular object of the invention is to provide simple, inexpensive, efficient, reliable and expeditious means for conveying a carrier thus left at the cashiers or checkers station or the like, or some similar station, to another station convenient as a car- Serial No. 614,469.

riensupply station relative to customers subsequently entering the store. These two stations will be respectively referred to hereinafter, generally, as the pro-exit station and the carrier-supply station.

Preferably, the object just stated is accomplished by providing a carrier-guiding means along which the carrier may be advanced from a point near the pro-exit station to a point near the place of entrance of new customers, preferably by gravity, and in combination therewith a carrier-transporting means, conveniently operable from near the pro-exit station, whereby a justemptied carrier may be thrown up instantly to take an elevated portion of the gravity track just mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide a track-taking device to be preferably permanently carried by each carrier and preferably to constitute an anti-friction device, and in combination therewith to provide the gravity track and the track for predetermining the course of a customer through the store, such that the carrier, or rather its track-engaging device, similarly takes either track, and also to provide means for conveying an emptied carrier to the elevated end of the gravity track, in the nature of a movable track continuation relative to the latter.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully iere-inafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of a self-service store incorporating an embodiment of the monorail system of the present invention Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the store of Fig. l;

3 is an enlarged detail view, partially broken away and partially in section, of a part of the carrier-transporting means adjacent the cashiers station as shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. A is an enlarged detail View, taken on line 44 of Fig. 2, and showing a carrier in end elevation.

Before proceeding to a more detailed explanation of my invention, it should be understood that my self-service store may be iii used for the merchandising of any desired commodities; and while of the type of store particularly adapted for so-called chain store systems it may also be used as an individual or single store.

In establishments of this hind the merchani'liso is arranged on display in suitable merchandise holders or containers, as on shelves or the like, so that the customer who enters passes through the store and selects from these holders the goods which he desires to purchase. As in my said co-pending application Serial No. 566,607, the cus tomer on entering the store is furnished with a carrier for the merchandise he is to select, and this carrier is adapted to be supported on a monorail track and travel along this track, thereby to direct and predetermine the course of the customer through the establishment so that he is conveyed past practically all the merchandise on display. it will be understood, then, that many of the details of the construction which I have shown and described, for example, herein, from no part of this invention and may be varied in accordance with individual preference or special conditions without departing from the spirit of the invention.

lletlerring more particularly to the drawirgs, my self-service store is located in any building, of any form and having the customary store-trout 5 while allording an entrance 6. I prefer to employ a vestibule 7 leading into a lobby '8. On one side oi the lobby is a portal, passage through which is controlled by suitable mechanism, such as a pair of turn-stiles 9. The lobby! divided from the salesrooin 10 of the store by a partition or rail 11 and a-counter 12 at an angle to the rail.

At the rear the salesroom 10 is separated from a store-room 13 by means of a wall or partition 1d, having at one side a door 15 for intcrcommunication with the salesroom.

A part of partition 1 1 includes a refrigerator 16 for perishable goods.

Arranged within the salesrooni and extending transversely thereof is a checking counter 17. This is disposed parallel to the counter 12 but spaced therefrom At its ends the counter 17 is equipped. with pro jecting rails 18 and 19. Of thes the latter terminates at a point substantially central with respect to turn-stiles 9. The rail 18 extends to a point so that its free end is somewhat spaced from a fitting 20, which may represent a table with center fountain tor the display of fresh vegetables, such fitting in turn being spaced somewhat from rail 11.

Anadditional counter 21 located within the salesroom parallel to the counter 17 but spaced therefrom.

Swinging gates 22 are hung at the ends of counter '17 and extend to the counter '21 to prevent customers entering betweln these two counters.

Positioned within the salesrooin and extending longitudinally thereof are two paral lel merchandise holders 523, These may consist of cabinets, shelves, bins, or any other suitable fittings for the purpose. The inerdhandise holders may be provided in any number, of course. The two holders shown are spaced at their ends, not only from count *1 21, but also from partition Between the ends of these holders 23 and said aartition are gates or barriers 24, of any suitable construction, mounted to slide vertically in guides provided for the purpose. These gates, when in normal positions, re lowered, but are adapted to beraised to inoperative position in an emergency or when otherwise desired by means of suitably 'uided cables 25, as is also a normally lowered but verti cally slidable barrier 26 between a central longitudinal partition 2'? and counter 21, as the result of an attendant between or near counters 17 and 21 pulling down on a handle 111 :ed 2"? in Fig. all as fully described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No 568,536.

Extending along the side walls of the building are shelves, cabinets, bins or the like 28 constituting merchandise holders of any suitable type. A. similar merchandise holder may conveniently be positioned as indicated at 23 in Fig. 1.

It will be understood that customer entering the lobby 8 passes through gate 9, takes one of the carriers 2-9, and in combination with such carrier passes alongthe first encountered shelves 28 to the end or" the aisle 30, then retrave-rses said aisle along holder 23, then throughaisles 3 352 and 3?) around partition 27, then to the 1 back through aisle 34, until linaliy the customer and his basket reach a point EPlHOIilmately that indicated at 29. .lnareupon the customer, after having added to his e ected commodities other articles from t. and shell 23 ii desired, passes with his basket around rail 18 to enter between counts-i 12 and 17 and. with the carrier on counter T The space between counters 17 and in y conveniently be the pre-exit or cashiers station hereinabove mentioned. And the short alley 36 in effect established along the side railing 19 and gate 22, here constitute the carriensupply station.

As fully described in my (to-pending application serial. No. 566,607 aforesaid, a carrier or basket accompanying a customer over 1is predetermined course through the salesrocm from point 43 to point 29 is sup ported by and slid along a monorail 3'? mounted in any suitable manner upon the various fittings alon which the extends, such as the merchandise holders L3. The monorail may be of any suitable construction, and consists, for example, as bestshown in Fig. 4, of a flat bar-rail 38, screwed, nailed or otherwise attached to its supports. C o-operating with the monorail and mounted upon the supports, below and p rallel with the monorail, is a guide rail 39, for purpose to be spoken of in a moment.

As also fully described in said co-pendapplication, Serial No. 566,607, the carrier used with the track system just described may be of any suitable type or construction. I prefer, however, to use carriers 29 sur-h as are shown best in Figs. 2 and l consisting of elongated substantially rectangular baskets of reticulate or other material. Referring to Fig. l, each basket has substantially central transverse bail or handle by means of which the basket may be readily carried by the customer when detached from the rails. The downwardly extending sides of the handle are cured to the corresponding sides of the basket in any suitable manner. Mounted on the basket, in the present case on bail d0, but always preferably to one side of the longitudinal Center line of the basket, is a fixture ll constituting a transverse support for a grooved wheel -12 constructed to rest and roll upon monorail 38. Each basket on the side most adjacent to the fixture all and grooved wheel l2, has a longitudinal wear strip (not shown here, but pursuant to said co-pending application) which contacts with the guide rail 39 when the carrier is supported by and travels upon the rail 38.

As fully disclosed and claimed in my said co-pending application Serial No. 566,607, the following construction is also preferably provided: Whenever the monorail 38 passes a door, barrier or the like, as for example indicated in Fig. 1 at 37, such section 3 of the track is attached to and movable with the door or barrier, so that the track and carrier system will not interfere with the normal functioning of say the door 15 or with the emergency exits intended to be provided by elevating barriers 24;.

The preferred form of construction ot a self-service store according to my invention will be clearly understood from the foregoing, and furthermore a better appreciai will be had of the preferred structural 1 acteristics and practical utility of the mean provided by the present invention for furnishing a means as hereinabove characterized for handling abasket 29 left emptied at the pre-eXit station after a customer passes through the turn-stile alongside counter 12 for exit through the store. It will of course be understood that it is the object instantaneously, unobtrusively, and non-interferently (relative to the rather congested neighborhood of the turnstiles 9) to transfer said carrier to the carriersupply stat-ion inside the salesroom just be yond the entrance turn-stile and preferably opposite railing 19.

To these ends, the following are made:

I provide a carrier receptacle or table 43 adapted preferably to support merely by gravity a plurality of sequentially arriving carriers and to n aintain such carriers in columnar relation. In order to transfer each carr'er as it is emptied at the pr -exit station, from such station to table 43, l preferably employ a carrier-supply track as, of such a cross-sectional shaie as to take the wheel 42 of each carrier 29, and preferably hung in place by a suitable number of hangers marked 45 in Fig. 2. Carrier-supply track a l is inclined along its length as shown so as to cause each carrier engaged with its more elevated end to travel by gravity along and down the track toward the point marked 4.6 in Fig. 2. It will be noted that this generally spiral setting of track i l attains the purpose intended and yet maintains all parts of the track noninterferent with the head of a customer traversing any of the permitted areas of the salesroom.

In connection with such track a l and table 43, there is also preferably provided an in terposed gravity conveyer means for a plurality of baskets 29 arranged in column; which means may conveniently be an inclined shelf 4.7 having at its outer edge a retaining and guiding wall .8, desirably flared its pper end as shown in Fig. 1.

In order to provide provisions a means trans porting an emptied carrier fcm say counter 17 to th elevated end of track A, that is to say, for elevating such carrier, and for thereupon automatically transf rring the carrier to track 414:. the following parts provided. l-lingedly connected as shown. best at 49 in 3, to the elevated end of track 4-, is a track member 50 nornn-tlly held n smooth prolongation of track 4.4.

that is, normally held at the lot-aml.-dash location 50, by means of a cable 51 passing over pulleys 52 and engaging at one end the free end of a claw-terminus 53 at the swinging end ot lI-lilCk' ll'lfiillllel 50, and connccted to and pulled on at its other end by a cylindrical weight 5% guided in a vertical sleeve 56. Connected to the lower corner of UHCX member 50 is the upper end of a pull-cord 55 the lower end of which carries a handle 27'.

In operation, when an emptied carrier 2.) is left behind at the pre-exit station by a customer leaving the store, an attendant at said station pulls downward on handle 27", throwing track member 50 to the full line position of Fig. 3. With his other hand the attendant takes hold of the bail 40 of the v smoothly along: the track structure 44!. 56 until ('llSCAllQtl downwardly bcycar. the

point marlred e'lll in his". 2, thereupon to add itself to the roar of the column oi carriers on inclined shell 23 or on table I claim:

1. ln a self-service store having; a salesroom. said salesroom including a e station to serve as a checking station ror merchandise selected. by a ci'is omer, and said salesroom turther in lude in; 'lor assist-- ing the customer in transporting merchan disc through the store, said n'ieans 1ncludinp;

a guide rail for readily detachable carrier, said store further includ o; a carrier supply station for an incoming customer, and said rail extending from a point near the carrier supply station to a point near the pre-eizit station,the combination of a carrier supply track extending from a point near the pre exit station'to a point near the carrier supply station, a track-engaging device on the carrier adapted detachably to take either track, and means including the last-mentioned track for transportinga carrier taken thereby near the pre-exit station, along: said track and toward the carrier supply station.

2. The self-service store defined in claim 1. wherein the carrier supply track has an elevated end above a point near the pre-ercit station, and. there is provided means for transporting a carrier from lower level to said track near its elevated end.

3. The self-service store defined in claim 1, wherein the carrier supply track an elevated end above a point near the preenit station, and there is provided means or transporting a carrier from a lower level to said track near its elevated end, and. tor thereupon automatically transferring); said carrier from the transporting means to said track.

4-. The self-service store defined in claim 1, wherein the carrier supply track has an elevated end above a point near the pro-exit station, and there is provided means for transporting a carrier from a lower level to said traclr near its elevated end, said transporting means including track "for also detachably taking a carriers track-engaging device.

The self-service store defined in claim 1,

wherein the carrier supply track has an elevated end above a point near the pre-exit station, and there is provided means for transporting carrier from a lower level to said track near its elevated end, said transporting means including a track for also detacnahiy taking a carriers track -engaging device, and the track last-mentioned being pivotally mounted.

6. The self-service store defined in claim i, wherein the carrier supply track has an elevated end above a point near the pre-eXit s-ztation, and there is provided means for transporting a carrier from a lower level to said track near its elevated end, said trans porting means incluoing a track movable relative to the carrier supply track and shaped ii -or also detachably taking a carriers trackensraging device, there being); further provieod means for normally holding the track oi? the transportin3,- means in a predetermined position relative to the carriersupply track.

7. The self-service store defined in claim 1, wherein the carrier supply track has an elevated. end above point near the pre-exit ta ion, and there is provided means for transporting a carrier from a lower level to said track near its elevated end, said transporting means including a pivotal ly m0unt ed track prolongation of the carrier supply track.

The self-service store defined in claim 1, wherein the carrier supply track has an elevated end above a point near the pro-exit station, and there is provided means for transporting a carrier from a lower level to said track near its elevated end, said transporting means including a pivotally mounted track prolongation of the carrier supply track, the two tracks last-mentioned being normally in mutual prolongation, together to establish a fraction of a nonainiplanar spiral struck on a substantially vertical axis and with the track of said transporting means at the more elevated end thereof.

9. The self-service store defined in claim 1, wherein thecarrier supply track has an e evated end above a point near the pre-exit sta ion, and there is provided means for transporting a carrier from a lower level to said track near its elevated end, said transporting means including a pivotally mounted track prolongation Oil the carrier supply track, the two tracks last-mentioned being normally in mutual prolongation, together to establish a fraction. of a non-uniplanar spiral striilclr on a substantially vertical axis and with the track of said transporting means at the more elevated end thereof, there being turther provided means for normally holdingr, the track of said transporting means thus in. prolongation of the carrier supply track, and manual means for rocking the track of said transporting means downward to take a carrier "for transport.

10. The self-service store defined in claim 1, wherein the carrier supply track has an elevated end above a point near the pre-exit station, and there is provided means for transporting a carrier from a lower level. to said track near its elevated end, said transportin means including a pivotally moun ed traci: prolongation of the carrier supply track, the two tracks last-mentioned heing normally in mutual prolongation, together to establish a fraction of a non-uniplanar spiral struck on a substantially vertical axis and with the track or said transporting means at the more elevated end thereof, said store having a portal, and the carrier supply track being so arranged as to be non-interferent with a standees head in the vicinity of such portal.

11. The seli-service store defined in claim 1, wherein there is provided a guiding and supporting means for holding in column a plurality of carriers discharged from the carrier supply track.

12. The self-service store defined in claim 1, wherein the carrier supply traclr has an elevated end above a point near the pre-ezrit station, and there is provided means for transporting a carrier from a lower level to said track near its elevated end, said transporting means including a pivotally mounted track prolongation of the carrier supply track, and also having means for at all times preventing the movement of a carrier along said prolongation except toward the carrier supply station.

13. In a seltservice store having a sales room, said salesroom including a pre-exit station to serve as a checking station for merchandise selected by a customer, and said salesrooin further including means for assisting the customer in transporting Hllchandise through the store, said means including a guide rail for a readily detachable carrier, said store further including a carrier supply station for an incoming customer, and said r extending from a point near the carrier supply station to a point near the pie-exit station, the combination of a carrier sup -ly tack 6L nufrom a point near the re-exit station to a point near the carrier supply station, and a trackenga-ging device on the carrier adapted detachahly to take eacn track, the first-Inert tioned track being in the main at a height above the floor below the shoulder of a customer of average height, and the second- Inentioned tr sir including a portion above the need of such customer.

i l. The selhservice store defined in claim 18, wherein the carrier supply track includes a length inclined to the horizontal to advanc a carrier thereon, along the same by gravity.

The seltservice store 13, wherein the s cludes a major l in extension.

16. The seltservice store defined in claim 13, wherein the carrier supply track includes a or length which is curvilinear in extension, said length being inclined to the horizontal.

MILLER REESE HUTOHISON.

defined in claim upply track in- Whi is curvilinear 

